The Forgotten Millions: Thanks to our generous readers

Rachel Smalley wrote from the frontline of refugee camps in Iraqi Kurdistan and Lebanon. Photo / Jo Currie, World Vision

Campaign to raise money for the forgotten victims of the Syrian crisis raises four times what was hoped for.

The Herald-World Vision Forgotten Millions campaign has raised an incredible $411,947 in just four weeks.

"The generosity of our readers has been phenomenal," said Herald editor Shayne Currie.

"We originally hoped we'd raise at least $100,000. To raise four times that number is beyond our wildest dreams."

The campaign, in which NewstalkZB's Rachel Smalley wrote from the frontline of refugee camps in Iraqi Kurdistan and Lebanon, was launched to highlight to New Zealanders the plight of millions of children and their families left homeless as a result of the Syrian crisis.

"Rachel brought it all home to our readers, with stories of heartbreak and loss - but also hope," said Currie. "Her writing and photographer Jo Currie's images have been extraordinary and enduring."

As we reported at the launch of the campaign, the refugees are mostly middle-class people: lawyers, teachers, dentists, accountants. They had nice homes, jobs, and futures.

Now they have just the clothes on their backs. They've lost family, friends, and their houses. They've seen and experienced shocking violence. And an almost unbelievable fact: there are 12.2 million of them, including 5.6 million children.

To give an indication of how far the $411,947 from the campaign will go:

• $40 can provide a refugee with food for one month

• $68 can provide blankets for a family

• $94 can protect families from disease with hygiene and sanitation kits

• $176 can provide a stove for a family for warmth and cooking

World Vision chief executive Chris Clarke said the charity had been blown away by the generosity of Herald readers.

"Your incredible support means that World Vision will be able to reach more children and their families with life-saving aid.

"We'll be able to get more children into our Child Friendly Spaces, where they will catch up on the education they are missing out on, receive psychosocial support and simply have a safe place to have fun and be kids."

Mr Clarke said World Vision had so far helped more than 1.8 million people across Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq in the four years since the Syrian conflict began. The donations would enable it to help many more.